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Second Chances for Sinners and Saints

by Alan Allegra
12/25/2020 / Missions

“And the people of Nineveh believed God” (Jonah 3:5).

Jonah ben Amittai, whose name means “Dove,” was an Israeli prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II in the 8^th century B.C. Israel was enjoying renewed growth and a revived spirit of nationalism, while neighboring Assyria was starting to decline.

Assyria was a cruel Gentile nation, comparable to Nazi Germany, and Israel had long forgotten its commission to be a light to Gentile nations. The Assyrian people were living in utter darkness.

God called Jonah to call out the Assyrians for their sin (1:1–2). It was about a 550-mile journey, so Jonah packed his bags and bought a ticket — to Tarshish, 2500 miles in the opposite direction! The proud Israelite would not go to reach these — sinners!

God, not one to be disobeyed or thwarted, sent His underwater Uber to fetch Jonah and unceremoniously discharge him on land (1:17; 2:10). Jonah the saint was given a second chance to serve the Lord, although it took severe measures to get the reluctant prophet to obey. The lonely preacher proclaimed doom to the wicked nation (3:4).

Jonah did what he was told, and the result was spectacular: the entire Capital city repented (3:5–9)! God gave the sinners a second chance — they repented, God relented, and Jonah was contented (3:10).

Well, sadly, the last part of that observation is not true. Jonah was not content, but petulant (4:1). He so despised the Ninevites that he chose to die rather than see them repent. Jonah — the forgiven saint — even saw God’s grace, mercy, patience, and love, as negative traits! Whereas, the Ninevites — the cursed sinners — welcomed those same traits as signs of hope!

Disciples of Christ are called to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The gospel light is to be shined to “the world,” not just our chosen group or in our comfort zone. We may not like the way certain people look or act, and may correctly envision certain locations as dangerous, but guess who needs the gospel, and is not beyond God’s reach! Didn’t God give us a second chance at life when he shared the gospel with us? And he was not reluctant to do so!

If you have disobeyed God when you knew he had asked you to do something you didn’t like or didn’t feel qualified to do, ask him for a second chance to make it right. God does not allow excuses. Witness Moses’ call:

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? . . . You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do” (Exodus 4:10–15).

Don’t wait for God to use drastic measures!

We must pray for missionaries, who often go to far-off, scary, hostile, uncomfortable fields, knowing that sinners of any degree are still sinners whom God can forgive, just as he forgave all of us!

Alan is editor of Lifestyles Over 50 (Thrive Media) and contributor to the Allentown, PA, Morning Call. He is also an adult Sunday school teacher and Bible study leader. Passionate about reviving theology and church methodology, and being a senior citizen!

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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